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The Catholic Church launched the Crusades in the 11th century in response to the rapid spread of Islam in West Asia.
The Spread of Islam (7th-11th Century)
The Spread of Islam (7th-11th Century)
"Roman Empire 622-632 A.D."
Dr. Kazi Abdul Mannan
The Islamic Empire was able to flourish in the 7th century, partly due to the Byzantine-Sassanid Wars that devastated the armies of the the adjacent empires.
Under Islamic rule, Christianity and Judaism were tolerated as long as tax was paid. Because of religious toleration and the teachings of Islamic studies, Islam was able attract many followers from conquered lands and trade routes.
The Council of Clermont of 1095
The Council of Clermont of 1095
Although Jerusalem has been under Muslim control, pilgrimage was encouraged as it boosted the economy. However in 1073, the Seljuk Turks conquered Jerusalem, which made pilgrimage more difficult.
Because of the increased difficulty of pilgrimage and violent revolt of 1077, the Byzantine emperor appealed to Pope Urban II for military aid.
Pope Urban II called the Council of Clermont in 1095 to initiate the First Crusade.
"The Council of Clermont"
William F. Gordy
“On this account I, or rather the Lord, beseech you as Christ's heralds to publish this everywhere and to persuade all people of whatever rank, foot-soldiers and knights, poor and rich, to carry aid promptly to those Christians and to destroy that vile race from the lands of our friend.”
Pope Urban II
"Description of the Holy Land"
Burchard of Mount Sion
The First Crusade (1096-1099)
The First Crusade (1096-1099)
The goal of the First Crusade was to regain control of Jerusalem, and place it back it Christian hands.
In 1099, the Crusaders reached Jerusalem and began to violently lay siege, including the mass slaughter of Jews and Muslims.
The Crusaders succeeded in conquering Jerusalem after a month of siege. The assault resulted in the establishment four Latin Crusader States.
The Second Crusade was launched by Pope Eugene III after the Crusader colony of Edessa was conquered by the Turkish Zengid Dynasty
French & German Crusaders voyaged separately on the Crusade, but both troops suffered humiliating defeats alone and together in the Siege of Damascus (1148).
The Second Crusade (1145-1149)
The Second Crusade (1145-1149)
"Siege of Damascus (1148)"
Chronique d'Ernoul et de Bernard le Trésorier.
Third Crusade (1187-1192)
Third Crusade (1187-1192)
The Third Crusade was launched by three European Monarchs; Philip II of France, Richard I of England, and Frederick I of Holy Roman Empire in order to recapture Jerusalem from the Ayyubid Caliphate.
The Crusaders did not successfully recapture Jerusalem, but did not fail without immense effort which is seen in the Siege of Acre (1191).
"Siege of Acre"
Speculum Majus
The Fourth Crusade was launched in 1200 in order to recapture the Holy Land after losing it to Ayyubid Dynasty in 1187.
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